Macro v Micro

This has been a very busy week.  I have been working on the printing process I have discussed earlier using the gum arabic transfer method.   But the method is difficult to achieve I have had variable results.  The detailed pictures I had hoped for have not worked.  I have emailed a teacher who taught me the method to see where I am going wrong then I will try again next week.  The results have not been a waste of time because I like the atmospheric texture of the pieces and have been collaging and stitching into them.  The above picture is a collaged experiment.  I like the idea of creating micro and macro landscapes.   Here I have shown a landscape with a textural piece below it.  I've added stitch to various sections.

This is a compilation of various images I collaged together.  I  then tried the printing method which did not work clearly so used the painted over images to stitch into when dry to add texture.  You can't see the stitch on these pictures.  The colour way was very dark blues so I scanned them in and altered the brightness and colour adjustments which gave more definition to the birds and other detail.  I need to experiment more.   The landscape theme is proving to be very interesting.  I feel there is plenty of scope for me to take it further.

Abstract Landscape

It has been half term last week so we took the children away to Ambleside, Lake District and I combined taking photographs of the landscape, and visiting art galleries with the holiday.  It was amazing because the trees had turned various shades of red and orange.  I was interested in the light on the landscape, colour and texture and feel that the atmosphere of the outside is captured more by abstract landscape than realistic.  By that I mean it captures what you are feeling the beauty and essence of nature.   On my return I came across these abstract landscapes by Anne Stahl who lives in San Luis Obispo USA I feel she creates the essence of the landscape.  These paintings are views from bogs.

Bog by Anne Stahl

Winter Oil on Canvas by Anne Stahl

During my visit we visited various galleries and came across one selling large fabric panels.  This is what I have been thinking of creating myself but I want to work on a large scale representative of the landscape.  

I have been working on another type of printing using gum arabic to transfer atmospheric images from photographs.

I was pleased with the atmosphere in this print

I also found the rough sheets I pressed against the images each time had a great abstract texture and collaged these together to create a great background to stitch into.